Gargoyle, a Main Character in our Pirate Stories
In my pre-child life, I imagined one day telling my kids stories and singing them songs. Five years into this parenting gig, I found I hadn’t told but maybe a hand full of stories, and never to our son. How did that happen?
Several months ago, I was re-inspired to try it by a mommy blog post that I read. It was actually a little nerve-wracking. Could any stories that I tell compete with the 2-3 books we read each night? After all, I’m not even close to being a professional.
I started off with a story from my own life, with a few embellishments, about how for a full week in 5th grade, my best friend and I came to school dressed alike and we didn’t even it plan it that way. The kids loved it. Especially my son, who’s three.
Now, story telling has basically become part of our nightly routine (and is bleeding into the day time!). My son has requested almost every night, “Mommy, read me a story from your brain!” When I take a break to think of the next piece of the plot, he says “Mom, keep reading!” This week he’s asked for stories when he gets home from school, and even at breakfast.
My first couple of stories were about cars and trucks in a town called “Royville”. (My son’s name is Roy.) I’ve also branched out into several stories about pirates and superheros. I get the kids to help name the characters and decide what’s going to happen next in the story. They are getting really good at coming up with ideas for the ‘next episode’.
Sometimes my stories are terrible. Nobody would ever publish them. My rendition of Jack and the Beanstalk was downright embarrassing. But the kids don’t seem to care. They seem to just appreciate that I try.
Sometimes, my stories are great (or at least pieces of them!). Like when Dr. Dimwit accidentally made it rain bicycle tires in his laboratory. Or when “super girl” (patterned after my daughter) got to leave school early to fight crime.
In the best story that I told, pirates found an island with gold on it, but they had to solve the sea monster’s riddle before they could get to the gold. The best part of that story was I told it over breakfast at the dining table and I got to see both kids’ faces the whole time. I remember thinking, ‘Hmm. This must be what their faces look like when they watch their favorite TV shows.” Why should my TV get those fascinated looks and not me?
So why is this a game changer for us? I really feel like it’s brought us closer together. We have something that’s uniquely ours to share now. Even if story telling isn’t unique, our stories are unique – very unique! They are creations that we make and enjoy together, and I hope they’ll cherish them well past childhood. Also, it’s stretching my creativity and brain power, which I really enjoy!
Want to try it or beef up your story telling? Here are a few tips to get started:
1) Put your own spin on an old classic. Instead of Red Riding Hood, tell a story about Green Riding Hoodie, the girl who loves riding her bike and encounters a Big Bad Wolf on her way to the big race.
2) Think of a ‘Lesson’ that you want the story teach. That might help you build the plot. It could be very simple like “sharing is important” or “things are easier to do when people work together instead of apart”
3) Match the story characters and plot to your child’s interests. For example, do they like animals? Use animals as your main characters and set it in a pet store.
4) Get your child to help you tell the story. Let them name people and places, and let them decide what happens next.
5) It doesn’t have to be long. Short and sweet stories can be just as effective as long and involved.
6) If you really get stuck at a part, throw in a crazy plot twist, or make it a cliff hanger and say “stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow.” (But you really have to think of part 2 and tell it tomorrow!)
Have fun with it! And let me know if you come up with any good pointers or plots…. I need some new ones!
About Mary Beth Cox